Vietnam has called on the international community to intensify humanitarian activities and assistance to the socio-economic reconstruction in Gaza.

Addressing the United Nations Security Council consultations on the Middle East and Palestine, Vietnam representative Ambassador Le Luong Minh in New York on Feb. 18 applauded Russia and Egypt’s initiatives in opening international conferences pertaining to the issue in the coming time.

Minh condemned the sporadic rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and Israel’s continuation of military activities and bombardments, blockage and restrictions against Palestinians in Gaza and its planned expansion of new settlements in the West Bank.

“We call for maximum restraint, avoidance of any action or statement that may reignite hostilities, and an immediate return to peaceful negotiations as set out in the Annapolis outcome and Security Council Resolution 1850 (2008),” said the ambassador.

He underlined the pressing need for the full implementation of Resolution 1860 (2009), especially with regard to achieving a durable, lasting and fully respected ceasefire, sustaining the opening of border crossings and mediating intra-Palestinian reconciliation.

The diplomat also stressed the role played by the UN, the League of Arab States and regional countries in this connection.

Emphasising the concerned parties’ responsibilities to abide by international humanitarian and human rights laws and ensure the safety for relief work by international organisations, he urged them to fully cooperate with the UN Board of Inquiry to accomplish its task in investigating attacks against UN facilities in Gaza during the period from Dec. 27, 2008 to Jan. 19, 2009./.